Minister of State for Trade Promotion, Artificial Intelligence and Digital Transformation
Niamh Smyth TD is Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment with special responsibility for Trade Promotion, AI and Digital Transformation.
It is the first occasion there has been a Minister designated with the portfolio concerning AI. Minister Smyth is leading a significant body of work to provide targeted support, training and advice to Irish enterprises, driving the adoption and deployment of AI systems across all business and industry sectors.
Minister Smyth is also spearheading new legislation, the Regulation of Artificial Intelligence Bill, which will designate the regulators responsible for implementing and enforcing the EU AI Act in Ireland, and establish the penalties organisations may face for non-compliance.
First elected to local government in 2009, Minister Smyth has been a member of Dáil Éireann since 2016, having been returned by her constituents on three successive occasions. She was appointed Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise in February 2025.
Prior to her ministerial appointment, Minister Smyth served as Chairperson of the Oireachtas Committee on Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht, where she chaired the high-profile investigation into payments at Ireland's public service broadcaster. In that role, she was also a passionate advocate for Ireland's rich cultural heritage, championing the traditions, beliefs and shared experiences that connect communities across the island of Ireland.